If you won the lottery recently – and are a classic car enthusiast – then you might just be able to make a big dream come true.
James Hull, owner of Britain’s largest, privately-owned, award-winning collection of cars, announced that he is in search of a new home for his 457 British classics, estimated to be worth £100million.
Many of the vehicles have their own rich history and celebrity lineage. The collection includes a Mini Traveller owned by the late Lord Mountbatten, which was offered to a young Prince Charles; a Bentley formerly owned by Elton John; Keith Floyd’s “woodie” Traveller; a Humber belonging to the judge presiding over the Profumo Affair; and a 1961 E Type Jaguar owned by Britain’s world motor cycle champion Mike Hailwood, complete with a Donnington medal. A car owned by Winston Churchill offered up a heavy wooden box containing silver maps of France, allegedly given to Churchill by Roosevelt.
His collection of cars covers each decade from the 1930s to the present day, reflecting the history of the British automotive industry.
While Hull, who has been amassing these cars for 35 years, is keen for the collection to remain in the UK, there is significant interest from overseas buyers.
Asked what he will do with the empty warehouses once his beloved cars have gone, he said: “I’m a collector, so who knows what will turn up next! My wife hopes it will be something smaller like stamps.”